Heel and tap therefor



RE M72 1 z mw F. M saws! HEEL AND TAP THEREFORE Filed Feb. 20, 1957FIG.4

INVENTOR. FERNANDO M. RONCI xl ATTORN FIG. 7

United States Patent HEEL AND TAP THEREFOR Fernando M. Ronci,Providence, R. 1.

Application February 20, 1957, Serial No. 641,403

2 Claims. (Cl. 36-42) My present invention relates to the shoemaking artand more particularly to a novel construction of a heel and tap.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a heelhaving a tap that is simple and easy to attach or replace.

6 Another object of the present invention is to provide a heel and tapwhich produces a strengthening of the heel construction and provides afirmer support.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a heel and tapwhich lends itself to ornamentation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a heel and tapwhich is particularly adaptable for very narrow womens heels.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a heel and tapconstruction which is economical to manufacture and assemble.

With the above and other objects and advantageous features in view, myinvention consists of a novel arrangement of parts more fully disclosedin the detailed description following, in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings and more particularly defined in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a perspective view of a womans shoe having the heel and tap ofthe present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the heel and tap.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the tap.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the lower portion of the heel with anornament and tap attached thereto.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the construction shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of another shape of tap.

Fig. 7 is a section similar to Fig. 5 showing another form of myinvention.

In certain types of womens shoes the heel has been constructed with anextremely narrow shank popularly called a spike. These heels have becomeso small in cross section that they are extremely weak and easilybroken. Recently they have been molded of plastic material to give themadditional strength. But regardless of their construction it has becomeincreasingly difiicult to supply these heels with a tap at the bottom.The nailing area is extremely small and it is difficult to fit the tinytap to the bottom of the heel. Furthermore, it has become fashionable touse metal taps, and again the small area has prevented a firmattachment. When the taps are worn the shoemaker finds it extremelyditficult -to renail a new tap without splitting the heel.

The present invention is designed to overcome these difficulties byproviding a heel and tap construction which is self-centering and easyto attach or replace and which actually strengthens the narrow lower endof the heel. Referring to the drawings, the shoe 10 is provided with aheel 11 which can be made out of any suitable material such as wood orplastic or leather. As shown in Fig. 2 for purposes of illustration, theheel is shown made out Patented Sept. 16, 1958 of plastic material. Thetop portion 12 of the heel 11 is broad and strong. However, this tapersdownwardly to an extremely narrow portion 13 which is often less than /2inch in diameter. In accordance with the present invention the bottomend of the portion 13 is dished at 14 and provided with a verticalthreaded opening 15 extending upwardly through the portion 13, adistance of approximately 1 inch or 1% inches.

Now referring to Fig. 3, I provide a tap 16 which may also be made ofany suitable material such as rubber, leather, or metal. It has becomefashionable to make these taps out of brass which enhances the shoe withits gold color. In the form shown in Fig. 3, the tap is round and isprovided with a thick portion 17 which may have arcuate sides and is ofslightly larger diameter than the heel portion 13. Integrally formedwith the portion 17 is a domed portion 18 which is shaped to exactly fitthe dished portion 14 of the heel. This leaves a shoulder or ledge 19extending around the bottom of the portion 18. The tap 16 is providedwith a central opening 20 of the same diameter as the opening 15 in theheel portion 13. As shown in Fig. 2, the bottom of the tap 16 isprovided with a wider opening 21 communicating with the opening 20.

In assembly the tap 16 is placed at the bottom of the heel portion 13and it will be found that the domed portion 18 will slide into thedished portion 14 to center the tap in correct position with the edge ofthe dished portion 14 resting on the shoulder 19. An elongated screw 22is now passed through the tap 16 and threaded into the opening 15. Thehead 23 will countersink into the opening 21. The screw 22 not onlyserves to lock the tap to the heel but forms a stiff solid metal corefor the narrow portion 13 of the heel and strengthens this area so thatit will not snap or break. The screw head 23 will not become wornbecause it is countersunk. In replacing the tap it is a simple matter toposition the screw and put a new tap into place. The combination of thedished portion 14 and the domed portion 18 serves as a self-centeringsocket and also increases the area of support for the bottom of theheel.

While the tap shown in Fig. 3 may be used with round heels or heels thatare fiat at the instep, the tap can be shaped as shown in Fig. 6. Herethe bottom body portion 24 is shaped like the heel with the fiat side 25and with straight sides. It is also slightly larger than the heel sothat the domed portion 26 leaves the shoulder 27 for the bottom edge ofthe heel.

The above construction also lends itself to additional ornamentationeasily applied. Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, the heel 28 is provided withthe tap 29 and screw 30. The ornamental portion 31 comprises a flatstamping shaped to fit the outside of the heel and being provided at itsbottom edge with a flange 32 which is positioned beneath the bottom edgeof the heel and which may extend into the dished portion as shown inFig. 5. After the ornament is first positioned on the heel, the tap 29is put in place and the screw 30 locks the parts together. It is thusevident that the ornament will be pinched between the tap and the heel.Thus the same screw that holds the tap will also hold the ornament.

If desired the ornament and the tap may be combined in a single integralconstruction as shown in Fig. 7. In this form the narrow heel portion 32is provided with a narrow end 33 forming a shoulder 34. The tap 35comprises a thickened bottom and a tubular shell having the sameinternal diameter as the heel portion 33. The shell is slipped over theend of the heel until it abuts the shoulder 34. The screw 36 operates inthe same manner as in the previous forms. In this form the integralmetal shell serves as additional strengthening means for the heelbesides providing a contrasting metallic color at the lower end of theheel. It is therefore obvious that it can be made shorter so that itforms a small socket for the end of the heel, -lor it can be elongated;to cover the entire narrow portion of the heel even .beyond the innerend of the ,screw 36.

Where the tap is .madein-annular forrn, .such.as sh own in .Fig ,3, .anadditional advantage is obtained. As the rear 'edge of the .heel wear-sdown, the -screw can be loosened and the heel turned to bringan unwornportion to the point of greatest .wear. This will prolong the life ofthe metal heel.

The Construction .of thepresent invention lends itself to the use ofvarious .rnaterials, shapes and ornamentations. The combination ,of thetap and heel forms a selfcenteringfirm support. .By. extending theassembly screw through the thin portion of thelheel a strong metal coreis provided which greatly strengthens this area. Other advantages of thepresent invention will be readily apparent to a person skilled in theart.

I claim:

1. A heel for a womans shoe comprising a broad top portion tapering toan elongated very narrow bottom portion to form a narrow high heelhaving a very narrow bottom portion extending approximately one thirdthe height of thevheel, said narrow portion being of an integral solidconstruction and having a central vertical threaded opening extendingupwardly through said very narrow portion, a tap fitting the bottom endof said heel, said heel having a dished bottom and said tap having adomed top fitting into said dished bottom, said tap having an annularportion wider than said heel to provide a shoulder around the base ofsaid domed top,

and a metal screw extending through said tap and into said threadedopening to lock said tap to said heel, said screw being elongated toextend through the length of said narrow portion opening to form areinforcing core for the narrow portion of said heel.

2. A heel for a womans shoe comprising a broad top portion tapering toan elongated very narrow bottom portion to form a narrow high heelhaving a very narrow bottom portion extending approximately one thirdthe height of the heel, said narrow portion being of an integral solidconstruction and having a central vertical threaded opening extendingupwardly through said very narrow portion, a tap fitting the bottom endof said heel, said heel having a dished bottom and said tap having adomed top fitting into said dished bottom, said tap having an annularportion wider than said heel to provide a shoulder around the base ofsaid dome top, an ornamental shell surrounding the bottom end of saidheel and having an .integral portion extending between the bottom ofsaid heel and said tap, said extending portion being domed to conform.to the shape of .said heeland tap, and a metal screw extending throughsaid tap and into said threaded opening to lock said'tap to said heel,said screw being elongated to extend through the length of said narrowportion opening to form a reinforcing core forlthe narrow portion ofsaid heel.

References-Cited in the 'fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,598,397 Senise Aug. 31, 1926 1,754,280 McNamara Apr. 15, 19302,076,978 Butler Apr. 13, 1937 2,544,878 Dratler Mar. 13, 1951

